ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS STATEMENT ON THE SUSPENSION OF SADTU PRESIDENT THOBILE NTOLA AND COSATU GENERAL SECRETARY ZWELINZIMA VAVI

15 August 2013

Economic Freedom Fighters note the suspension and political persecution of Zwelinzima Vavi, the General Secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and SADTU President Thobile Ntola. The suspension of Zwelinzima Vavi and SADTU President Thobile Ntola does not come as a shock to EFF because in the Clarion Call we made on the 11th of June 2013 to announce the beginning of Economic Freedom Fighters, we said "COSATU will soon be swallowed into same politics of reforms, and all those who push for a radical agenda will be isolated, banished and portrayed as anti-ANC. The dominant ANC/SACP faction in COSATU will rid it of independent progressive leaders". 

In the clarion call, EFF further said, "independent trade unions, like AMCU, will continue to emerge and grow bigger because COSATU Unions will gradually fail to represent workers".

EFF made these observations because we know that the neo-liberal, reactionary, corrupt, and directionless faction that currently run politics in the Zuma African National Congress and South African Government is hellbent on extinguishing all Left forces and threats to big Capital. The suspension of Vavi and Ntola is therefore part of the purge of consistent Left forces that have since admitted the massive blunder committed through the election of Mr. Jacob Zuma as President of the country. 

SADTU President Thobile Ntola and COSATU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi represent militant and radical fighting spirit of the working class that stood firm against the neo-liberal National Development Plan, eTolls, Labour Brokers, corruption, and pure mediocrity in the South African government. These are leaders who are honest and admitted to the blunders that the working class was led into in 2007. These are leaders who refused to be co-opted by the corrupt elements in the State and are now the Nomenklatura that justifies State corruption and looting of State resources. These are worker leaders who enjoy massive support on the ground and are victims of Palace coup de tat aimed at marginalizing the Left agenda in South Africa.

EFF believe that the remaining Left forces within COSATU will now begin to realise that after Ntola and Vavi, they are next to be purged. The remaining progressive Left Unions in COSATU will soon be riddled with divisions and infighting aimed at eliminating the progressive forces. The Left in COSATU should soon realise that they will be forced to continue tying the working class, particularly organised workers to their oppressors, who are politically embodied in the ZANC. COSATU will again in 2014 be forced towards supporting and funding ZANC elections, which entails supporting and funding the National Development Plan, eTolls, Labour Brokers and continuation of capitalist repression. 

The Left forces in COSATU should begin to appreciate that the working class in South Africa does not need the ANC to pursue a revolution that will economically emancipation the black majority and Africans in particular. The Left forces should begin to realise and appreciate that beyond 100 years, the former Liberation Movement has become slower, forgetful, reactionary and decidedly conservative. The former Liberation is not committed to the discontinuation of private ownership of Mines, Banks, and Monopoly Industries because most of their leaders are subjectively and individually benefitting at the expense of the working class.

EFF message to these leaders is that they should never be silenced by Palace politics. They should in their own chosen platforms continue to fight for the economic emancipation of the black majority and Africans in particular. EFF will at all times, associate with leaders and progressive forces that fight for economic freedom and progressive agenda, despite of their current political homes. Fight on Comrades! Victory is Certain! 

Statement issued by the Economic Freedom Fighters, August 15 2013

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